History

William Forsyth begins working at the Boston Belting Company, built on two acres along the Stony Brook, which provided water for breweries and industry. It was the largest factory in the world devoted to the manufacture of rubber goods. The Forsyth family makes their fortune through this successful company.

James Forsyth hears a child crying from the window of his hotel room. The next morning, he investigates and learns the child was in pain from a toothache. James sees his dentist shortly after and relays the story. His dentist explains that poor children often suffer in pain and are unable to afford dental care. James decides he will build a dental infirmary for children in need.

John and Thomas Forsyth begin their plans to build a cathedral “dedicated to the children.” To help realize James’ vision, John and Thomas add $1.5 million of their own fortunes to James’ gift. Upon John’s death, and prior to the completion of the infirmary, Thomas gives an additional $2 million. In total, the Forsyth brothers donate $4 million (over $500 million today) to help the children of Boston.

Between 1914 and 1960, hundreds of thousands of Boston-area school children are treated at the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children for comprehensive dental care, as well as a variety of other medical needs.

Thomas Forsyth leads the dedication ceremony for the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children. He is joined by Governor David I. Walsh, Mayor James M. Curley, and the President Emeritus of Harvard, Charles W. Eliot, among many others in the medical and dental professions. At the ceremony, Thomas remarks, “It has been my wish that the Infirmary should be a home to the children, beautiful and cheerful; a protector of their health, a refuge in their pain.”

The Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene enrolls its first class of students. It was the second school of dental hygiene in the United States, after the Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport, and is the longest continuously operating dental hygiene school in the nation.

With his new research team, Howe publishes scientific papers describing breakthroughs in the microbiology of cavities, the treatment of childhood cavities using silver, and the nutritional vitamin requirements to maintain oral and systemic health, including Vitamins A, C, and D. This body of research represents a new frontier in dentistry.

Dr. Percy Howe begins working with Dr. Otto Folin at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine to develop saliva analysis as an indicator of bodily conditions. The Forsyth Institute today continues this area of research with the Center for Salivary Diagnostics.

Thomas Forsyth dies. Percy Howe becomes Director of the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children.

“The Forsyth Experiment” is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and supported by a grant from the U.S. Children’s Bureau to determine if “feminine personnel” could be trained to adequately prepare and fill cavities in children’s teeth under the supervision of a dentist. Despite special legislation and a special statute and approval from the Massachusetts Dental Society, organized dentistry in Massachusetts succeeds in repealing the statute, thus terminating the project ten months after it begins.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Forsyth researchers in collaboration with colleagues at the National Institutes of Health identify a bacterium, Streptococcus mutans, as one of the major culprits in tooth decay.

Dr. John B. MacDonald, an oral microbiologist, becomes Director of the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children upon Dr. Marjerison’s death.

The Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene accepts its first male students.

The Rotunda Project under the direction of Dr. Ralph Lobene is launched. Similar to the Forsyth Experiment of 1949, the project seeks to prove that the full range of restorative procedures can be provided by a team of dental hygienists under dentist supervision. Legal objections prematurely terminate the Rotunda Project in 1974 before all phases of clinical activity are achieved.

Forsyth scientists Drs. Daniel Smith and Martin Taubman begin clinical trials for a caries vaccine. Drs. Philip Stashenko and Floyd Dewhirst are also involved in the research.

A type of bacteria implicated in periodontal disease is discovered by Forsyth researcher Dr. Anne Tanner and her colleagues. Bacteroides forsythus is named for her research team.

Forsyth creates the Boston Oral Health Clinical Resource Center in collaboration with Boston area dental schools.

Forsyth changes its name to The Forsyth Institute, reflecting the significance and extent of its research portfolio.

ForsythKids launches as a pilot in Lynn, Boston and Hyannis. Participating students receive on-site dental examinations, oral health education, preventative services, including dental cleanings, application of fluoride varnish and sealants to prevent decay, and temporary fillings if needed.

Dr. Philip Stashenko is appointed President and CEO of the Forsyth Institute.

Dr. Thomas Van Dyke and his team join Forsyth and expand the Center for Clinical and Translational Research, focused on developing novel therapeutics for oral disease and forging new partnerships throughout industry and academia.

Forsyth’s dental practice, the Forsyth Faculty Associates (FFA) opens. FFA provides the highest quality comprehensive oral health treatment available, including general and preventive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative services, periodontal care, implants, endodontics (root canal treatment), pediatric dentistry, and oral surgery.

Forsyth researchers led by Dr. Toshihisa Kawai publish an unprecedented finding that the major cause of periodontal bone loss is the protein RANKL, activated by an immune response. This finding also has significant implications for other diseases that cause bone loss, including osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

A team of scientists from the Forsyth Institute and the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait find that metabolic diseases, which are characterized by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and obesity, lead to changes in oral bacteria and put people with the disease at a greater risk for poor oral health.

Forsyth research and Director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research Dr. Hatice Hasturk leads a clinical trial collecting saliva and dental plaque from patients with severe gum disease. Dr. Hasturk and her team detect high levels of P. gingivalis DNA and gingipains in the saliva and dental plaque of patients with periodontal disease. The results are part of a larger study published in Science Advances linking P. gingivalis and gingipains to Alzheimer’s disease.

The Forsyth Institute launches Forsyth dentech, the leading oral health technology innovation conference convening thought leaders from research, industry, academia, and venture capital. This annual event aims to accelerate innovation and launch new ventures in the oral health space.